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The Causes of WWII

The Causes of WWII. Fascism. Def.: A new political movement that emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader. What is fascism?. No clearly defined theory or program Extreme form of nationalism Nations must struggle

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The Causes of WWII

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  1. The Causes of WWII

  2. Fascism Def.: A new political movement that emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader.

  3. What is fascism? • No clearly defined theory or program • Extreme form of nationalism • Nations must struggle • Loyalty to an authoritarian leader who guided and brought order to the state • Uniforms, special salutes, mass rallies • Believes each class has its own place and function • Made up of aristocrats and industrialists, war vets, and lower middle class

  4. Fascism in Italy • Social unrest • Anger over failure to win territorial gains post-WWI • Rising inflation and unemployment • Newspaper editor/politician named Benito Mussolini • Promises to rescue Italy by: • Reviving economy • Rebuild Armed forces • Give Italy strong leadership • Mussolini gains support of middle classes, aristocracy, industrial leaders • Attacks socialists and communists • Coup d'état gives Mussolini (Il Duce) power, dethrones king • Abolishes democracy, outlaws all political parties except Fascists • Jailed opponents • Forces radio, publications to censor, publish Fascist doctrine • Outlaws strikes

  5. Fascism in Germany • Ex-artist, political leader Adolf Hitler • Joins National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi) • Overturn Treaty of Versailles, battle communism • Adopts hooked cross (swastika) as symbol • Private militia (Storm Troopers) • Becomes “der Fuhrer” (leader) of Nazi party • Writes Mein Kampf(“My Struggle”) while in jail • Aryans as master race • Other races (Jews, Slavs, Gypsies) inferior • Calls for lebensraum (living space) to reduce crowding • Wants to conquer E. Europe and Russia • Germany looks to Hitler to restore economy during Depression

  6. Hitler Takes Over Germany • Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany • Calls for elections but Parliament building burnt down • Communists blamed, letting Nazis take over • Becomes totalitarian ruler • Outlaws parties other than Nazism • Arrests opponents • Creates the SS (Schutzstaffel “protection squad”), loyal to Hitler • Arrests and murders Hitler’s opponents • Creates the Gestapo (secret police), ruling through terror • Bans strikes, dissolves labor unions, gov’t has total power over business • Puts Germans to work, creating highways, weapons, military • From 6 million unemployed to 1.5 million unemployed

  7. Hitler as Fuhrer • Absolute ruler • Propaganda • Burning of books • Hitler Youth and League of German Girls

  8. The Beginnings of WWII

  9. Japan • When Depression begins, civilians blame the government • Military leaders dispose of government, take over • Keep Emperor Hirohito as the head of government • Wins popular support to allow military ruling • Military want to improve economy by expanding, get raw materials, and sell manufactured goods • Japan invades Manchuria (1931) • Establishes factories and mines • Protested by League of Nations, Japan withdraws in 1933 • Japan invades China, takes over • China defended by Mao and Chiang Kai-Shek

  10. Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia • Ethiopia is one of three independent nations in Africa • Italy invades in 1935, defeats Ethiopians • Italy: airplanes, tanks, guns, poison gas • Ethiopians: spears and swords • Ethiopian emperor asks League of Nations for help • League does not respond • By allowing Mussolini to attack Ethiopia, keep peace in Europe

  11. Hitler Defies the Versailles Treaty • Hitler vows to expand military, limited by treaty (1935) • League does nothing • German invasion of land surrounding Rhine River (Rhineland) in 1936 • Britain urges appeasement (giving in to aggressor to keep peace) • Invasion of Rhineland strengthens Hitler’s power and prestige within Germany • France and Belgium open to attack by German troops • Weak response from France and Britain encourages Hitler to continue expanding • Hitler convinces Mussolini to create alliance (10/1936) • Known as Rome-Berlin Axis • Japan joins in November, becomes Axis Powers

  12. Spanish Civil War • Rebels declare Spain republic against Spanish monarch • Led by Francisco Franco • Hitler and Mussolini send troops and supplies to aid Franco • Franco becomes a Fascist dictator in 1939

  13. The Preservation of Peace • Europe fears another war, too poor from Depression • United States • Joining WWI was a bad move, call for isolationism • Neutrality Acts passed in 1935 • Banned loans and sale of arms to nations at war

  14. Germany Gains Power • Hitler wants to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into Third Reich (German Empire) • Versailles prevented Anschluss (union between Austria & Germany) • Hitler annexes Germany in 1938, Britain and France ignore • Region of Czechoslovakia called Sudetenland • Hitler demands to annex Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia refuses • Munich Conference • Meeting of Germany, France, Britain, Italy • To preserve peace, Britain and France give in to Hitler’s demands • Give Germany control of the Sudetenland, Hitler respects Czechoslovakia • Hitler takes over Czechoslovakia, Mussolini takes Albania • Britain and France ask Soviet Union for help • Stalin makes pact with Hitler, create non-aggression pact

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